| Abstract | 第3-4页 |
| 摘要 | 第5-8页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第8-11页 |
| 1.1 Research background | 第8-9页 |
| 1.2 Purpose and significance of the study | 第9页 |
| 1.3 Framework of the thesis | 第9-11页 |
| Chapter Two Literature Review | 第11-25页 |
| 2.1 Metaphor and its structure | 第11-12页 |
| 2.2 The traditional views of metaphor | 第12-14页 |
| 2.3. The current views of metaphor: the theoretical framework | 第14-18页 |
| 2.3.1 Conceptual metaphor theory | 第14-16页 |
| 2.3.2 The theory of conceptual fluency | 第16-18页 |
| 2.4 Metaphorical competence (MC) | 第18-23页 |
| 2.4.1 Definition of MC | 第18-19页 |
| 2.4.2 Linguistic competence, communicative competence and metaphoric competence | 第19-20页 |
| 2.4.3 Related studies of metaphoric competence | 第20-23页 |
| 2.4.3.1 Research on development of L2 learners' MC | 第20-21页 |
| 2.4.3.2 Research on L2 learners' MC and language proficiency | 第21-23页 |
| 2.4.3.3 Research on L2 learners' MC and gender | 第23页 |
| 2.5 Summary | 第23-25页 |
| Chapter Three Research Methodology | 第25-31页 |
| 3.1 Research Questions | 第25页 |
| 3.2 Subjects | 第25-26页 |
| 3.3 Instrument | 第26-30页 |
| 3.3.1 Metaphorical competence test | 第26-29页 |
| 3.3.2 English proficiency test | 第29-30页 |
| 3.4 Data collection and analysis | 第30-31页 |
| Chapter Four Results and Discussion | 第31-41页 |
| 4.1 The overall picture of non-English major graduates' MC | 第31-33页 |
| 4.2 Differences in MC between males and females | 第33-34页 |
| 4.3 Correlation between MC and English proficiency | 第34-37页 |
| 4.3.1 Correlation between English proficiency and the whole MC | 第35页 |
| 4.3.2 Correlation between English proficiency and every aspect of MC | 第35-37页 |
| 4.4 Relationship of L1 MC and L2 MC | 第37-41页 |
| 4.4.1 Correlation between L1 MC and L2 MC | 第37-38页 |
| 4.4.2 Comparison between MC in L1 and L2 | 第38-41页 |
| Chapter Five Conclusion | 第41-47页 |
| 5.1 Major findings of the study | 第41-42页 |
| 5.2 Implications for Foreign language teaching and learning | 第42-45页 |
| 5.2.1 Practical insight for foreign language teaching | 第42-43页 |
| 5.2.2 Practical implications for postgraduates’ foreign language learning | 第43-45页 |
| 5.3 Limitation of the thesis | 第45页 |
| 5.4 Suggestions for Future Studies | 第45-47页 |
| References | 第47-51页 |
| Appendix I Metaphoric Competence Test Paper | 第51-55页 |
| Appendix II English Examination for Master Students | 第55-61页 |
| Acknowledgements | 第61-62页 |
| Publications | 第62页 |
